Stapling device



Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

JOHN H. ROUTSON, F FLINT, MICHIGAN.

STAl-LING DEVICE.

Application filed August 1, 1924. Serial No. 729,442.

My invention relates to stapling devices and particularly to that type of stapling devices embodied in the form of a fence post. Heretofore considerable difficulty has been encountered in providing a stapling device for a cement or concrete post such that satisfactory results might be obtained 1n the use of .such posts, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by which a satisfactory fastening shall be effected between the wires and posts of this type.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have lccomplished my objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawing and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claim.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a face View of a concrete fence post embodying my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, being substantially a horizontal section taken at line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the position of the parts when the staple is inserted in its initial position.

Fig. 4- is a side view of the tubular men ber comprising a part of my improved fastening device; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail View illustrating the connection of a wire to the post.

Referring to the several figures of the drawing. in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference charactersindicates a post made of concrete, cement. or other suitable material. reinforced in any suitable way as may be desired. having embedded therein in the construction shown, a tubular member formed into two tubular metallic members 11 and 12 in alinement with each other. In the construction shown. these members 11 and 12 are approximately eighteen inches long, but it will be understood that they may be made of any desired length and that a suitable number of the devices will always be selected for use with a post depending on the number of wires it is desired to attach and the proposed positions of such wires.

In the construction shown, the tubular members 11 and 12 are made of sheet-metal bent into appropriate form, but it is possible to make the devices in other ways if desired. The tubular member is provided with an opening at its front face, and directly opposite such opening the device is provided on its interior with a spreading device 13. In the sheet-metal form as illustrated, the spreading device 13 is in the form of a reent-rant angle portion provided by pressing the rear face of the member forwardly toward the front opening, such forwardly pressed portion or apex being given a comparatively sharp crease at its front edge. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the metal forming the spreading device is backed up and reinforced very strongly by the concrete or cement which is force-d into the angle as shown at 14. The front side portions or side walls of the tubular member are converging and spaced at a short distance from each other corresponding to the thickness of an ordinary staple, being held reinforced in such spaced position by the concrete or cement at the points 15 and 16, the side portions being curved gradually outwardly on an arc toward the rear for providing room for the desired amount of concrete or cement for reinforcing purposes. The front edges of the sheet-metal forming the split tubular member are rolled outwardly to provide resilient bearings 17 and 18 for the wires as hereinafter described. It will be noted, therefore, that the inner surface of the tubular member at opposite sides of the reentrant portion defines curves, intersecting in a line determined by the apex of this reentrant portion, and that the side walls form with the re-entrant portion divergent channels having the closed end substantially semi-circular.

In use, with a post 10 in vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 1, having one or more of the tubular members, as 11, embedded therein, when it is desired to attach a wire 19 thereto, a staple 20 is placed in position straddling the wire, with the oppositely chamfered end portions of the legs of the staple on opposite sides of the spreading device 13 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The staple is then driven in the ordinary manner into the post, the legs of the staple being bent side-wise in opposite directions by their contact with the spreading device 13, the metalhe faces of the tubular member on opposite sides of the spreading device being prefer ably of a shape corresponding to the curvatalent the legs of the staple by the action of driving the staple into position. \Vhen the staple comes to the final portion of its inward movement, the tips of the legs of the staple, which have already been curved somewhat, are curled outwardly and backwardly by the action of the strongly supported metal plate at the rear face of the tubular member, serving to clinch the staple tightly in position. T his final clinching of the staple preferably takes place after the wire 19 has been brought into COl'lttlCL with the rolls 1'? and 18, such rolls being slightly indent-ed, as indicated by the dotted line position of the Wire 19 in Fig. 2, by the final portion of the driving operation. The rolls 17 and 18 are thus seen to serve not only as resilient bearings for taking the jar of the dri ing operation from the post but also as cooperating means for holding the staple in the desired position longitudinally of the tubular member.

In the construction illustrated. four wires it) are fastened in position on the post 10. As will be appreciated, any suitable number of such wires may be en'iployed.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a construction similar to that above described but utilized for holding a barbed wire 21 in position in lieu of the smooth wire 19 of the other ligm'es. In this construction, the wire 21 is held against longitudinal movement toward the right in said figure by contact with the side face of the roll 17.

I have found by p actical use of my improved device that the staples serve to hold the wires very securely in place. I have found also that by the application of the proper degree of force the staples can be withdrawn for releasing the wires, and that fresh staples can then be secured in position effectively either atthe same or at other positions along the tubular members. It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not restricted to use in connection with straight or barbed wire fences as illustrated, but that it may be utilized in any combination where it is desired to secure a staple in position for any purpose.

While I prefer to employ the form of de vice as illustrated in the drawing and as above described, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction except so far as such details may be specifically claimed, since it is clear that changes may well be made in the detailed form of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Phat I claim as my invention is:'

A staple securing means comprising: a

tubular member having divergent sidewalls, the converging edges of said walls being slightly spaced apart. said side walls diverging on an arc, said tubular member opposite said edges being formed re-entrant to provide a spreading portion for engaging bet-ween the prfings of a staple driven into the space separating said converging edges. the inner surface of said tubular member at opposite sides of the apex of said re-entrant portion defining curves intersecting in a line determined at the apex of said re-entrant portion, said side walls and said re-entrant portion thus forming pair of divergent channels, the closed end thereof being substantially semi-circular, said curved surfaces engaging througl'iout their length the prongs of a staple driven therein, the closed ends of said channels engaging the'ends of said prongs for clenching the same.

In testimony whereof, I have signed the foregoing specification.

JOHN H. ROUTSON. 

